Giraffe born at Paignton Zoo

Zoo keepers are keeping a close eye on a giraffe born at Paignton Zoo.

The new arrival – thought to be female - was born at around 6:00am on Tuesday 4th September to mother Sangha and father Yoda.

Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “This is the first time we have had the mother give birth in the herd – it means that the youngster is out and about within hours of being born.”

The as yet unnamed calf stands at nearly six feet tall. The other youngsters at the Zoo are Tonda, who was born in February 2010, and Valentino, born on Valentine’s Day this year.

Father Yoda came from Givskud Zoo, Denmark, where he was born on 14th November 2004. He arrived in Devon in September 2006. Sangha, six and a half, who came from Liberec Zoo in Slovakia. The Zoo’s other female is seven year old Janica, who came to Paignton Zoo from Duvr Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic.

They are all Rothschild's (Baringo) giraffes. Rothschild's giraffes are classified as Endangered – there is a European Endangered species Programme for the species.